Minimum Training Requirements for Entry-Level Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators

John Van Steenburg
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
1 February 2017

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 20 (Wednesday, February 1, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 8903]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-02150]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

49 CFR Parts 380, 383, and 384

[FMCSA-2007-27748]
RIN 2126-AB66


Minimum Training Requirements for Entry-Level Commercial Motor 
Vehicle Operators

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; delay of effective date.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Presidential directive as expressed in 
the memorandum of January 20, 2017, from the Assistant to the President 
and Chief of Staff, entitled ``Regulatory Freeze Pending Review,'' this 
action temporarily delays until March 21, 2017, the effective date of 
the final rule titled ``Minimum Training Requirements for Entry-Level 
Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators,'' initially effective February 6, 
2017, is delayed.

DATES: The effective date of the final rule published on December 8, 
2016 (81 FR 88732), is delayed until March 21, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Richard Clemente, Driver and 
Carrier Operations (MC-PSD) Division, FMCSA, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., 
Washington, DC 20590-0001, by telephone at 202-366-4325, or by email at 
MCPSD@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FMCSA bases this action on the Presidential 
directive as expressed in the memorandum of January 20, 2017, from the 
Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, entitled ``Regulatory 
Freeze Pending Review.'' That memorandum directed the heads of 
Executive Departments and Agencies to temporarily postpone for 60 days 
from the date of the memorandum the effective dates of certain 
regulations that had been published in the Federal Register, but had 
not yet taken effect. Because the original effective date of the final 
rule published on December 8, 2016, falls within that 60-day window, 
the effective date of the rule is delayed until March 21, 2017.
    The Agency's implementation of this action without opportunity for 
public comment is based on the good cause exceptions in 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(B) and 553(d)(3), in that seeking public comment is 
impracticable, unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. The 
temporary delay in the effective date until March 21, 2017, is 
necessary to give Agency officials the opportunity for further review 
and consideration of this new regulation, consistent with the 
memorandum of the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, dated 
January 20, 2017. Given the imminence of the effective date of the 
``Minimum Training Requirements for Entry-Level Commercial Motor 
Vehicle Operators'' final rule, seeking prior public comment on this 
temporary delay would have been impractical, as well as contrary to the 
public interest in the orderly promulgation and implementation of 
regulations.
    The Agency may consider delaying the effective date of the above 
referenced regulation beyond March 21, 2017, consistent with the 
memorandum of the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff.

    Issued under the authority of delegation in 49 CFR 1.87 on: 
January 27, 2017.
John Van Steenburg,
Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-02150 Filed 1-31-17; 8:45 am]
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